III 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 124 

Recognizing the importance of increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders, supporting programs for increased research and improved treatment of autism, and improving training and support for individuals 

with autism and those who care for individuals with autism. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 26, 2005 

Mr. HAGEL (for himself, Mr. FEINGOLD, and Ms. STABENOW) submitted the 

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, 

Education, Labor, and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the importance of increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders, supporting programs for increased research and improved treatment of autism, and 

improving training and support for individuals with autism and those who care for individuals with autism. 

Whereas the Autism Society of America, Cure Autism Now, 

the National Alliance for Autism Research, The Dan 

Marino Foundation, and numerous other organizations 

commemorate April as National Autism Awareness 

Month; 

Whereas autism is a developmental disorder that is typically 

diagnosed during the first 3 years of life, robbing individ-
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•SRES 124 IS

uals of their ability to communicate and interact with 

others; 

Whereas autism affects an estimated 1 in every 166 children 

in America; 

Whereas autism is 4 times more likely in boys than in girls, 

and can affect anyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, or 

other factors; 

Whereas the cost of specialized treatment in a developmental 

center for people with autism is approximately $80,000 

per individual per year; 

Whereas the cost of special education programs for schoolaged children with autism is often more than $30,000 

per individual per year; 

Whereas the cost nationally of caring for persons affected by 

autism is estimated at upwards of $90,000,000,000 per 

year; and 

Whereas despite the fact that autism is one of the most common developmental disorders, many professionals in the 

medical and educational fields are still unaware of the 

best methods to diagnose and treat the disorder: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the establishment of April as Na3 tional Autism Awareness Month; 

4 (2) recognizes and commends the parents and 

5 relatives of children with autism for their sacrifice 

6 and dedication in providing for the special needs of 

7 children with autism and for absorbing significant fi-
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•SRES 124 IS

1 nancial costs for specialized education and support 

2 services; 

3 (3) supports the goal of increasing Federal 

4 funding for aggressive research to learn the root 

5 causes of autism, identify the best methods of early 

6 intervention and treatment, expand programs for in7 dividuals with autism across their lifespan, and pro8 mote understanding of the special needs of people 

9 with autism; 

10 (4) commends the Department of Health and 

11 Human Services for the swift implementation of the 

12 Children’s Health Act of 2000, particularly for es13 tablishing 4 ‘‘Centers of Excellence’’ at the Centers 

14 for Disease Control and Prevention to study the epi15 demiology of autism and related disorders and the 

16 proposed ‘‘Centers of Excellence’’ at the National 

17 Institutes of Health for autism research; 

18 (5) stresses the need to begin early intervention 

19 services soon after a child has been diagnosed with 

20 autism, noting that early intervention strategies are 

21 the primary therapeutic options for young people 

22 with autism, and early intervention significantly im23 proves outcomes for people with autism and can re24 duce the level of funding and services needed later 

25 in life; 
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•SRES 124 IS

1 (6) supports the Federal Government’s nearly 

2 30-year-old commitment to provide States with 40 

3 percent of the costs needed to educate children with 

4 disabilities under part B of the Individuals with Dis5 abilities Education Act (IDEA); 

6 (7) recognizes the shortage of appropriately 

7 trained teachers who have the skills and support 

8 necessary to teach, assist, and respond to special 

9 needs students, including those with autism, in our 

10 school systems; and 

11 (8) recognizes the importance of worker train12 ing programs that are tailored to the needs of devel13 opmentally disabled persons, including those with 

14 autism, and notes that people with autism can be, 

15 and are, productive members of the workforce if they 

16 are given appropriate support, training, and early 

17 intervention services. 

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